Things New and Old: Learn by Asking Intelligent Questions

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Learn by Asking Intelligent Questions

#Learn_by_Asking_Intelligent_Questions

A man messaged me:
"I want to hear more of what are true teachings of Christ and his commandments and to be saved from false teachings and other false gospel and false Christ..."

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I replied:
Your desire is highly commendable. Few want to hear or want the true teachings of Christ Jesus; many are content with some opinions of little Christ. When you want to learn the truth of Christ the Lord, no one can stop you. If you want to learn the truth, you MUST START THINKING for yourself, and start asking hard questions.

Much that is taught in churches as the gospel truth is just falsehood clothed in bible sounding words.

If you want to hear more... then hear more; no one can stop or hinder you. But you need more than hearing; you need to ask HARD QUESTIONS if you want to learn the truth of the gospel, and recognize falsehood and lies out there.

Let me give you an example: the popular teaching that justification before God is by faith alone is a plain lie and error. Why? Just ask a few simple but appropriate questions and it will become self-evident.

1. Who needs justification before God the Judge?

2. Can such a person who needs justification before God exercise faith in order to be justified by God?

3. How does God the Judge justify?

4. Who does God the Judge justify?

5. Who is able to exercise faith?

6. How does faith, a man's act of believing in Christ, justify him?

Until you learn the skill of asking appropriate questions, it is difficult to learn the truth. Addiction to soundbites is a dreadful disease; it debilitates the mental faculty.

I started to learn the truth of the gospel of grace when I was advised by the late Elder Gene Thomas. He taught me one precious thing: be self-learning by asking hard and smart questions.

May you discover the same blessings too.

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p/s another example:

Ephesians 2

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

By grace ye are saved when ye WERE dead in sins...

By grace are ye saved through faith...

Q1. Saved through whose/what faith?

Q2. What is the salvation spoken of?

Q3. When you were dead in sin, can you exercise faith?

Q4. What is the gift? Salvation or faith?

Q5. A man dead in trespasses and sins - does he need the gift of salvation or the gift of faith?

Q6. Is the gift of faith to a man dead in sins of any use to him?

Q7. What is it to be saved by grace?

Q8. What is the ground/basis of salvation?

You can probably think of more. Ask away!
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Mark Thomas
I’m thankful that Brother Gene’s ministry reached the far side of the earth and benefited you. Keep asking the hard questions! They have many lessons to teach regardless of where we are or how much we think we know. Buy the truth and sell it not.